The second ever Road Home symposium at PCC in April shone much needed attention on veterans’ needs, most especially for those stricken with post traumatic stress disorder. But with Los Angeles county reporting a large number of homeless individuals and a high percentage of those being veterans, California’s Veterans Affairs Department needs to modify its tactics.
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According to an executive summary by Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority in 2011, 8,130 or 18 percent of 51,340 homeless individuals in the greater Los Angeles area are veterans. To make matters worse, the percentage of homeless veterans has risen by 19 percent from 2009 to 2011.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs needs to consistently be able to offer all veterans dependable housing and supportive services.
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A huge problem is the large percentage of veterans suffering from PTSD who are unable to access the benefits that are available to them, according to Marshall Lewis, Veteran’s Club president.
“They are withdrawn from society and have become homeless,” said Lewis.
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According to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, “(PTSD) is a mental health problem that can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like war, assault, or disaster.”
The department needs to actively engage veterans and help them apply for the benefits that they need and deserve. It would be more effective if it developed an orientation that gives a detailed description of the programs that would help veterans reintegrate themselves into society.
“The most important thing is for the VA to actively pursue veterans to help them,” said Lewis.
California does have many programs and dedicated public servants trying to aid veterans to help them get off the street.
The state’s VA department has laid out a plan to improve the accessibility and utilization of benefits by veterans, which would help if it is implemented effectively and efficiently.
The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs has just agreed to collaborate with the “100,000 Homes” campaign, to find permanent housing for 10,000 veterans in 2012, according to its website.
“President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki on the website.
Programs such as these and promises are great. But as long as so many veterans are homeless, America is failing our sons and daughters who have served this country.
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